Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship
• Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.)
• Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7407(a)
• Experience and Education
• Experience
• Six months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled
• OR Education
• Successful completion of two academic years above high school leading to an associate degree or a bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the position
• OR Experience/Education Combination
• Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying
• An example of a combination of experience/education is three months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled and one year above high school with a minimum of 6 semester hours related to the health care industry
• Foreign Education
• To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs
• English Language Proficiency
• HTA, HTSLP or HTASLP candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403 (f)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• Health Technician (Audiology), GS-04 Experience
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Assignment
• This is an entry level developmental position
• The HTA at this level works independently under the direction of a licensed audiologist
• The assignment of this position includes but is not limited to assisting the audiologist with patient assessment and treatment
• The health technician must adhere to the audiology clinic policy and standard operating procedures for infection control and cleaning, sterilization and disposition of reusable medical equipment (RME)
• The health technician maintains a comprehensive supply and equipment tracking system to include monitoring stock of RME and consumable items
• ensuring proper inventory levels to complete the daily tasks
• prioritizing the acquisition of all supplies and equipment with regard to date of expiration
• maintaining proper levels of mailing/shipping supplies
• preparing mailing and shipping requests for items including but not limited to hearing aid and hearing assistive technology repairs, ear mold orders and return for credit items
• and maintaining loaner hearing aid inventory
• Health Technician (Audiology), GS-05 Experience
• One year of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled
• OR Education
• Successful completion of four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with at least 24 semester hours in courses related to the position or a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to the functions of the occupation
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
• In addition to meeting the experience or educational requirements for this grade level, the candidate must fully demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of anatomy of the head and neck
• Ability to communicate clearly orally and in writing
• Knowledge of basic hearing assistive technologies
• Knowledge of basic infection control procedures and guidelines
• Ability to maintain stock and supply level inventories
• Skill in using basic computer software such as email, spreadsheet and word processing
• Assignment
• This is a developmental position
• The HTA at this level works independently under the direction of a licensed audiologist
• Assignments associated with this position include, but are not limited to answering and screening calls from patients regarding audiology needs
• assisting the audiologist with patient assessment and treatment
• assisting with walk-in appointments
• processing incoming devices from patients with concerns related to their hearing aids or hearing assistive technology
• and preparing and charging (if required) hearing aids and assistive devices for delivery
• The health technician must adhere to the audiology clinic policy and standard operating procedures for infection control and cleaning, sterilization and disposition of RME
• The health technician maintains a comprehensive supply and equipment tracking system to include: monitoring stock of RME and consumable items
• ensuring proper inventory levels to complete the daily tasks
• prioritizing the acquisition of all supplies and equipment with regard to date of expiration
• maintaining proper levels of mailing/shipping supplies
• preparing mailing and shipping requests for items including but not limited to: hearing aid and hearing assistive technology repairs, ear mold orders and return for credit items
• and maintaining loaner hearing aid inventory
• Health Technician (Audiology), GS-06 Experience
• Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of normal and abnormal ear anatomy
• Knowledge of hearing physiology and function to educate patients and families
• Knowledge of hearing aids, hearing assistive technology, hearing aid manufacturers and manufacturer software
• Ability to solve problems or make decisions regarding hearing aid, hearing assistive technology and patient care, consistent with the documented and co-signed plan of care under the supervision of an audiologist
• Ability to prepare patients for testing procedures
• Ability to document and code patient procedures
• Assignment
• Employees at this grade level serve as a full performance level HTA
• The HTA at this level works independently under the direction of a licensed audiologist
• Assignments associated with this position include, but are not limited to: completing visual and auditory checks of hearing aids and hearing assistive technology
• repairing or returning hearing aids to the factory
• restoring hearing aid or hearing assistive technology settings after repair or replacement
• and ordering, registering, certifying, issuing and tracking prosthetic devices
• The health technician assists in setting up and delivering face to face and telehealth visits by preparing the equipment for patient evaluation and other audiology procedures
• The health technician provides clinical procedures consistent with the documented and co-signed plan of care which may include non-diagnostic otoscopy, cerumen management, foreign body removal and ear mold impressions and without interpretation, immittance screening and hearing screening
• The health technician educates patients, family and staff on topics including but not limited to hearing aid and hearing assistive technology care, maintenance, use and operation, hearing conservation and realistic expectations for hearing aid use
• The health technician completes documentation for each episode of care and codes procedures as appropriate in the patient record in preparation for co-signature by the audiologist
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-04 to GS-06
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.